Brussels, 20/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - Out of the 183 proposals it received from EU Member States and candidate countries, the European Commission has approved funding for 54 nature conservation projects under the LIFE Nature programme. The projects will restore protected nature areas, establish sustainable management structures and strengthen public awareness and cooperation with stakeholders. They will thus further contribute to the creation of the EU-wide Natura 2000 network of protected sites in keeping with Community legislation (directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and their fauna and flora, and directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds).
These projects represent a total investment of € 125.7 million, of which the EU will cover 69 million. The projects were presented by partnerships of various conservation bodies, government authorities, NGOs, anglers' and hunters' associations in Austria: 2 projects, Belgium 6, Denmark 3, Finland 2, France 4, Germany 7, Greece 1, Hungary 2; Ireland 1, Italy 4, Latvia 1, Lithuania 2, Luxemburg 1, the Netherlands 1, Poland 1, Slovakia 2, Spain 4, Sweden 2, the United Kingdom 1 and Romania 5.
In a press release Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: “I am delighted to see European funds supporting local, regional and national efforts to conserve natural species and habitats”.
A summary of the selected projects for each country can be found at the following internet address: (http: //europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/home.htm).